Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-05-05
ACROSS SIBERIA.

- n ~ sS q 6 {. gesz,g g. IL ssssst "a E
sLEneE TRAVELLING OVER NORTH
ERNg Asih's SNOW ANo ZOE.
= xormidabls x<rsy "a nsSssrt-Pro-
xr'ops fof Hspsiiins ne Attaei1 q
-Ih6 SlSdgs mans = sibskia-A
1Psll Esspss.sass.
Three shaggy, ungroomed horses ap-
peafOd ID sight Astride the fFst sat 3
yemstchik bearing before him q huge
douga the wooden arch which forms 50
conspicuous portion Of the harness of
every draft horse IN Russia, from the Bal
tic to- the Pacific. Brilliant with blue and
red and green paint, it presented -lwhen
listened to the shafts above the head Of
the central hOrsesOf our tfoika - striking
contrast to- the dingy vehicle which for
the next nine weeks was to be our home
q large, deep, roughly built sledge, open
In front, but covered I'm at the back with
q canvas hood lined with thick felt The
yefnstchik's seat consisted Of fiat board,
apparently designed by q coach builder
Ignorant Of the fact that o slelge driver
is like other other human beings, gifted
with pair Of legs. From this board
slOped downward and outward, till their
points nearly touched the ground on either
side Of sthe slodge,r - pair OF stont ash
poles, designed partially to prevent, the
vehicles Rom aoverturning, and partially
Ike the scythes Of an ancient British war
chariot, ~ tfehpollsof defense and attack.
Int thu bottom o. this sledge our formid-
able array Of baggage, including q goodly
supply Of canned and frozen provisions,
was sprea1 . thick folding mattress Of
ion BY day and ID bed By night. We were
well provided with armor to repel the It
tacks Of frost, With legs incased IN dog
skin socks goats y hair stockings and thick
6slt boots reaching to above the knees.
with double sdeerskin kukliankas an ex-
C6llUnf hooded garment Of KAinchatdale
mana 6tnfe similar iii appearance to the
Esqufmau dress with long, black shubas
! or coats Of sheepskin, with fur caps COW
ering the ears, and gloves made like those
of our infancy, having one receptacle for
the thumb and one Tor the four fingers
joints, WITH u stout, felt lined rug or
,sheepskfn, and an apron Of felt attached
80 the front Of the ssledge awe were con-
Yinsed that the cid need have but little
The packing OF d Siberian sledge Is q
science which cannot bs mastered in a
single lesson; but after some difficulty oil
was arranged Tor 3 Early comfortable
start, and, waving fakewells to the friends
who had Collected to Witness the setting
. out Of our hxpedition, we went away at q.
gallop on re llrst 81 the tour hundred odd
stages whicn Were before rs. The effects
Of the recenf poufga soon became pain
fully apparent The slopes OF the hills at
the back Of the port were entirely aenuded
OF snow, kand Il was With ifIicultY that
the horses could drag the heavy laden
valleys the deep snowdtifts have scarcely
less trouble. But M little While the
road improved, the sun shOne out brightly,
and the weather was 30 mild that single,
sheepsArin coat was more than sufficient.
for warmth. The xhilarating sensation
Of gliding over y Nsnow road, with three
fresh, high spirited horses gallOping be-,
fore rs, RAISED our spiritss and q sledge
4 Journey through Asia EbOr6 the aspect or
pleasant Holiday excursion. AZ soon a.
we were clear Of the town, the yenstchik
descended from his. perch and loOsened the
clapners of two large bells suspended In
the douka, and we had our nrst taste Of
the. music which WAS to- accompany ~
from tile Pacific to the erals. The sledge
bells Of Siberia are not the tinklin9 silver
bells of Poe.s fahcy.. They are often Is
\ large as an ordinary English Dinner bell
/ They vary iii Number from one up t1fiHe
Or six, ana are not always tdneH TO- hAr-
m0ny At 1itst the ceaseleAs tiahgfng q
by no means agreeable, bdt after 3 tifht
|. the ear becomes accustomed to- IT and
when on one q two occasions, while